Needle-thread take-up and controlling device for sewing-machines.



P. W. MERRIGK. y NEEDLE THREAD TAKE-UP AND GONTROLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR.11, 1904. 4 931,98@ u Patented Aug. 1o, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

` P. W. MERRIGK. NEEDIE THREAD TAKE-UP AND CONTROLLING DEVICEl FOR SEWING MACHINES.

APPLICATION EILED MAR.11, 1904.

. Panted Aug. 10,1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

A In 06715021' thereto.

NETE@ FATENTOFFKQ.

FRANK W. MERRICK, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO'UNION LOCK STITCH COMPANY, Oli` BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

NEEDLE-THREAD TAKE-UP AND CONTEOLLING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Aug. 1o, ieee.

Applicationled March 11, 1904. Sferial No. 197,653.

larly, for application to wax-thread sewing' machines employing what are known as hooked needles. Certain ot the principles and features of the invention, however, are not necessarily restricted to use in this precise connection, and ,may be employed insewing machines of diferent class and character without necessarily involving departure from the spirit of the-invention.

l will yproceed to explain the invention with reference to the lapplication of the same to a wax-thread sewing machine employing a hooked needle as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in ywhich latter?.-

Figure 1 shows in front elevation, vwith the overhanging arm orgooseneck partly in vertical longitudinal section, portion of the said sewing machine with an embodiment of the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a view looking from the left-hand side in Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in vertical section on lino 2, 2,A of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an edge View of the take-up lever, detached, showing the slack-thread controller applied Fig. 4' shows the thread-gripping and tension devices, detached, in vertical section on line 4,4, of Fig. 1. Figs 5, (3 and 7, Sheet 2, are views illustrating the working of the take-np, slack-thread controller, and threaddingerz Fig. 8 is a detail vview in section along the line 8-8 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated Dy the arrows at the ends of such line. Fig. 9 is a detail View in cross-section on line 9-9 of Fig. 2. Fig. 10 is an edge View of the crank-disk 9, showin-g the transverse bends in the course of the canrgroove which is formed in the said disk.

lglavirng reference to the. drawings,-at 1, Figs. 1 and 2, is shown the outer portion or head-end of the overhanging arm or goose` neck of a, sewing machine, a portion. of the in. unison with'the shaft 2. preferably is mounted upon a disk 9 which is usual rotating ciperating or driving'shaft which extends within the said arm or gooseneck heilig represented at 2, and a bearing for the said shaft being shown at 2l, Fig. 1, in the said head-end.

At 4, Fig. 1, is shown the awl-har, it car rying the awl 5. In practice,rthe awl-bar is mounted to reciprocate vertically in guides (not necessary to loe shown) which. are located at the outer end of the said arxn or goose'neck. The said guides may he provided in a laterally-1novable head, as fre.- quently the case in practice. The said latorally-movable head, and the means ot op-' erating the saine as required in order to et feet they feed of the material being sowod, may be as usual or of any preferred character and construction. The constriufl'ion and arrangement shown and described in.

the application of Henry H. Cun'nnings tor UnitedStates patent for Sewing Machine, tiledl September 23,1903, Serial No. 174,260, may be employed it' desired.

For the purpose ot reciprocating the awlbar vertically, it is connected by .means of a link 7 with a crank pin 8 which rotates The crank-pin fast upon the shaft 2. A hooked needle' of the general character of those employed in hook-needle wax-thread sewing machines is shown at 1.0. The actuating connections therefor, which may be of any approved. character, are not necessary to be shown, and accordingly have been omitted from the drawings. lortion of a work-support is indicated at 11. The needlel() is shown arratged to work upward from below through the material which is to be stitched, while the awl-loar and awl, and devices for applying the thread to the needle, are arranged at the upper side of the said material. The looper bymeans of which the thread a. is laid within the open eye of the needle is shown at 12, it being carried by one arm of a lever 13. .The means and manner of operating the lever 13 may vary in practice, although herein the said lever 13 is mounted ivotally upon a substantially diorimntal orwardly-projccting stud 131, with capacity to turn transverselyupon the said stud so as to permit- 'the looper to be swung transversely with relation to the line of feed adjacent to the needle 10, and for the purpose of enabling the looper .to have movement in loo los.l

latter end, the stud 131 is provided With a collar 132 which is sleeved upon the projecting end of a short horizontal 'rockshaft 133,

With capacity to turn around the same, the

said roekshaft occupying a position parallel with the' shaft 2 and being fitted to a bearing' Which is provided therefor at 134i in the arm or gooseneck 1.

The looper 12 is .caused to follow the required path around the upper end of the needle 10, for the purpose of applying the thread to the open eye of the needle preliminary to each descent of the needle for the formation of a stitch, by causing the lever 13 to svving transversely with reference to theline of'feed around the stud 131, and by causing the lever and said stud to swing in unison around the rockshaft 1-33 in a vertical shaft 2 is formed with a cani-groove 136 iWithin Which the said cam-follower 135 lits.

4In order to compensate for Wear, the sides of the groove 136 are made inclined Atovvard each other, as shown,-so that the groove is i essentially V-shaped, and the cam-follower' 135 is tapered correspondingly to fit such groove. hecam-groove 136 is varied in its direction, both radially with relation to the ,axis of the shaft 2, and transversely or parallel With the said axis. .Thereby, in conse quence of they engagement ofthe cam-fol'- loWer 135 Within the said cam-groove the compound movements of the lever 13 and looper 12 loyvvhieh the delivery end'of the looper is caused to travel in the required ,path around the hooked end ofthe needle roll 151 for engagement with theithread..

For the purpose of enabling' the amount of thread which is drawn up by the take-up arm or lever l5 in its taking-up movement to be varied, as may be required, the said arm or lever `is radially slotted, as at 152, Fig. 2, to permit the said stud or roll ,to be setV farther from orn'earer -to the axis ofV movement of the take-up arm or lever, according as a greaterlor less amount of thread 1s required to'he ,drawn out by the take-up arm or lever in its movement. The take-up arm or lever is supl'iorted upon a horizontal rockshaft 153, which llatter is mounted in a suitable bearing which is provided therefor at 154, Figs. 1.and 2, in the head of the" machine. I connect the takeaip arm or levver by' means of a pitman or link155 with 'and the other extremity thereof is pivoted to the-said takeup arm or lever at a fixed distance from the pivotal axis of the latter. The employment of a crank and pltman or connecting link for the actuation of the take-np arm or lever, instead of a cam as usual in many sewing machines heretofore,l obviates the' weight and the Wear and tear in connection with the cam.-` Thereby the machine is rendered easier-running, the vibration and noise in running are greatly reduced, and a more durable construction is secured. The employment of the crank, and the p'itman or connecting link having one extremity thereof pivoted to the crankpin and the other extremity thereof pivoted to the take-up arm or lever at a fixed distance from the pivotal axis of the latter, in lieu of a`.rotating or other pinworking in a Cain-shaped slot, or other slot, in an arm connected with the take-up arm or lever, affords a direct and simple construction, free from the liability of the latter construction to Wear and occasion loss of adjustment, play, vibration and noise. By combining the take-up arm or lever by a'pitman or connecting link with the same crank-pin which is operatively connected with the aWl-bar and aWl, I am enabled to reduce the number of Working parts in the head of the machine, thus simplifying the construction, and securing considerably greater eompaetness than in inany prior machines of the same general class.

I have found thatl by properly locating the pivotal axisof the take-up arm or lever, substantially as shown in the draWin s, it is possible to cause theaWl-bar and aw and also' the take-up arm or lever to act in the required sequence, and each with the proper relative timing in the sequence of the opei-,

ationsivhich are performed by the various Working elements ot the machine, through connections with .a single vcrank-pin as described. l

As shownin Fig. 2, the link 155 is fitted to the pin of the crank 8 between the link 7 and the disk 9. The effective length of the link 15, that is to say, the distance in a straight line between the point of its connection with the crank 8 and the point of its connection with .the take-up arm or lever 15, is nearly the same as the radial length of the crank, and hence in the position of the crank which corresponds with the retracted. position of the take-up arm or lever the point of connection between the said link and the take-up arm or lever is near the axis of the shaft 2. The effective length of the link is slightly greater than the radial length of the crank, in order that the point of connection between the link and the take-up arm or lever may not be carried into line with the axis of shaft 2 in which position there would be a tendency of the take-up arm or ldver to become locked so that the proper working of the same would not be secured, and injury to the parts would result. The proportions and arrangement illustrated produce a quick movement of the take-up arm or lever from the position thereof 1n Fig. 2 to the position thereof in Fig. 5, to take up the thread in tightening the stitch which is in process of completion, a somewhat slower return from the position of the take-up arm or lever in Fig. 5 throughthat in Fig. (3, to that in Fig. 7, and a period of considerable duration during which the take-up arm or lever occupies its retracted position, substantially as in Fig. 7, and the thread is left free to be solicited by the thread-finger, looper, and needle in',r

their movements. With the part-s constructed, etc., as in the drawings, the taking-up is begun and completed within practically one uarter, 'or 90 degrees, of a revolution ofthe siaft 2. During the next 135. degreesof such revolution the take-np arln or lever lis returning` to its normal or starting position, while during the remaining 135 degrees of the rotation of the cra'i'ik-pin the thread is left free from restraint by the take-up and roll. itv the time. of the taking-up, the crank-pin is passing in its travel betweelrthe shaft 2 and the pointof connection between the lilik 155 and the take-up arm or lever 15, as indicated in Fig. 5, so that the devices act upon the principle that is involved in a toggle to give the greatest power at the time of the greatest strain, the final strain coming on slowly and safely as the crank approaches the center.

The rockshaft 153 on which the take-up .arm or lever 15 is mounted is tubular, the

central bore of the said rockshaft serving` as a guide-passage for the thread, the latter passing through the said bore on its way from the source of supply to the needle. F rom the forward end of the rockshaft'the thread extends to the eye of the looper 12, and thence to the material which is in process of being stitched. The advantage of causing the thread to extend from a guide which is located at the axis of movement of the take-up arm or lever, directly past the stud or roll 151, of the said take-up arni or lever, as in Fig. 2, is that the length of thread between such guide and the said stud or roll remains the saine in all positions of the take-up arm or lever. Consequently in the taking-up movement of the take-up arm or lever, at thc time .of greatest strain, the

tively-movable clamping-meniber 181.

thread does not render or trave] over or around the stud or roll. 'lliusl trayiug the thread is obviated.

rl`he thread, in advancing yfrom the source of supply, passes from the usual wax-pot or equivalent' device to the entrance of the central bore of the rockshaft 153 at the' rear end of the said rockshaft. A portion of a wax- )ot shown in dotted lines at 1T in lfig. 2. Vetween the wax-potV and the rear end of the rockshaft 153 is located a combined tension-device and clamp for the thread. This is shown in position in Figs. 1 and 2, detached, and in vertical section,v in Fig. l.

The device is provided with a tln'ead-supporting and backing member 18, and a'rela- The supporting and backing member' 1S is furnished with an arm 182, Figs. 2 and 4, which is fastened by screws to the exterior of the stand 183, which latter .is attached to the outer surfacel of the overhanging arm or gooseneck 1. .A ,cylindrical chamber extends vertically through the said stand 183. lVithin the lower end of the said chamber is fitted a sleeve 184, which is capable of movement vertically within the said chamber'. The interior surface of the upper portion of he stand is screw-threaded, and within this. 'portion of the chamber is fitted a tubular nutv or externally screw-threaded sleeve 185.

The clamping member 181 is furnished' with a central spindle, 185, which projects up-` ward through the central opening or bore of the lower sleeve, 1H-t, its upper end entering the.. lower portion of the central opening or bore of the nut or screw-threaded sleeve 186. An expanding spiral spring 15-57 is contained within the said 'central opening or bore of the nut or screw-threaded sleeve, and exerts a downward pressure upon the upper end of spindle 185, thereby carrying the clampingmember 181 toward the thread-supporting and backing member 18. Thereby the thread passing between the opposing working surfaces of the members 1H, 181, is subjected to compression, by which its passage between such surfaces is retarded, and thus the required tension of the threadsupply is secured. For the purpose of enabling the tension to be regulated, the upper portion of the bore or central opening of the nut or threaded sleeve 186 is interiorly screw-threaded, and within the saine is tilted the threaded stem of an adjusting thumb-screw 18S. The spring 187 is compressed between the lower end of the said thumb-screw and the upper end of the spindle 185, and by'turning the thumb-screw the degree ofcompression is varied, whereby the action of the spring in forcing the clamping-member 181 toward the supporting'and backing-member 18 is regulated.

For the purpose of-enabling the thread to be clamped and held at the proper side of the take-up device while'the latter'is acting to complete and tighten the lastsformed stitch, an expanding spiral spring 189, Fig.

4, is placed lwithinthe chamber of 'the stand 183; This spring is compressed between Athe lower end of the nut or screw-threaded sleeve 186 and the upper end` of the vertically-movable sleeve 184, and when per, mitted to act depresses the latter until its lower end,engages with clamping-member 181, increasing .the force with which the latter is pressed toward the supporting and backing-member 18 so as to hold the thread more tightly .between the two members. The tension of ,spring 189,Y and consequently the degree of force with which the thread 1s take-up device, and thereby held from being' l drawn forward from thesourceof supply.

Vhile the take-up. arm or lever is in its retracted posit-ion, with the thread released thereby to the action ot the stitch-forming devices, the sleeve 184 is disengaged 'from' the clainpin -inember.181, so aste relieve the latter o the stress of the spring 189, leaving it subject to the action of only the lighter spring 187.

For the purpose-of controlling the engagei ment of sleeve 184 with the damping-member',

and of disengaging the said'sleeve from the said clamping-member at 'the required times I- employ a. vibrating arm 156, which is timed properly in its .movements, and which by engagement with a pin 157 made fast to the sleeve 184 and projecting freely through holes lin clamping-member 181 and backing .or supporting-member 81 operates to -move the sleeve 184 away lfrom the clamping-member 181. -This arm is in operative connec-,

tion with the shaft 2' through suitable devices. Preferably, the actuation of' the arm 156 'with proper timing is provided for by 'combining the same 'with the take-up arm orlever. This is effected by attaching the same tothe roelrshaft 158. By this means a separate train of actuating connections is dispensed with. During the operative stroke of the take-.up arm or lever, the arm 156 releases the `sleeve 184 to lthe action of the clamping spring 189, and thelatter forces the said sleeve against the bach of clamping-member 181, so as' to cause the thread to be held tightly between the latter and the'backing or supporting-member 18. As the take-up arm or lever nears its retracted position, the arm 156 engages with -in 157 and acts to move sleeve 184 away irom the clamping-member 181.'

The pull-off' device, by means of which while the thread is held clamped by the members 18, 181, a slight additional length of thread is pulled `forward from the source of supply and through the wax-pot for use in the formation of the 'next succeeding stitch, comprises i'n the present instance an arm 163, Fig. 2, provided with a pin 164 for engagement with the thread` By such engagement, when thearm and pin are moved in the proper direction, the said pin extends the thread from its straight condition,`shown -byrthe -full lines in Fig. 2, into a bend ot' open loop, as shown by .the dotted lines in such tigure. This arm 163 is in operative connection with the shaft Q. Preferably, in order to avoid the use of a separate train of motion-transmitting con timing by' heilig combined with' 'the threadJ tinger so a sto move in unison with the latter. To this end, the arm 163 and the lever 162 to which the thread-finger 16 is attached are both made fast upon the ,rockshaft 183 'to which referencelias already been made in describing the means of operating the looper l2. One arm of the lever 162 is furnished with a` pin or roll 165 working in a cam# groove 166 which is formed in the inner side of the disk S). The contour ofthe said camgroove is represented in Figs. 2, 5, 6 and 7.

The slaelrthread controller. consists of a caused to become engaged by the movement of the take-np arm or lever in taking-up. Preferably, the said slack-thread controller is carried by the take-up arm or lever, although this is not' material in all cases. Preferably, also, the slack-thread controller comprises, essentially, a yielding clamp to receive the thread and hold the slack which is surrenderedby the take-up device in its kinking and snarling of the same, 'and surrender the same to the pull of the stitch'- iormin'g devices in the operation of pro- Fducing a new stitch. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the slack-thread controller is constituted voi two surfaces or the equivalent-thereof with which the takeup arm or lever is provided. The two surfaces, in the present instance, are constituted by the proximate surfaces of two plates which are shown at 19, 1S). They are attached to the portieri of the take-up arm 9i" lever which carries the stud or roll 151,

edgesronverge quite closely toeach otherl as shown by Figs. 3, 8 and 9, but except at the cured in convenient manner to the take-up nections, the arm 168 is operated with proper,

thread-retainer with which the thread isrcturn movement securely enough to preventallel with each other. Their lower and riait" said edges the plates are -slightly separated'` shown by Figs.IA 8 and 9., They are se The needle-thread on its way trom the passage of rock-shaft 152-3 to the passage ot' looper 12 is conducted between the. said proloneations 'or extensions. When the take-u i y h arm or level' occupies the, retracted position of Fig. 2 the needle-tlnead occupies the space between the said prolongations or extensions.

As the take-up arm or lever is swung from the position in which it is represented 1n Fig. 2, toward the position in which it is represented in Fig. 5,'the portion of thread which extends trom the stud or roll 151 of the takeup arm or lever to the seam passes in between the gradually converging lower edges of the plates. ln the position which the take-up arm or lever occupies in Fig. 5 the thread will occupy the position between the plates which indicated by Fig. 5. During the returning movement of the take-up arm or lever the slack portion ofthe thread will he lightly contined between the said plates, until it is drawn out by the action of the stiteh-torming devices in forming a succeeding stitch. See Fig. 7. The returning move.- ment. ot' the take-up arm or lever, na'mely from the position of Fig. 5, through the positions shown in Figs. (5 and 7 to the position shown .in Fig. 2, is timed with reference to' the movements of the thread-finger 11i and needle 1() so that as the take-up arm or lever and thread-finger move trom` the positions which arel occupied by them in Fig. 5 to the positions that are shown in Fig. (t the slackthread controller delivers up the proper amount. of thread tor the loop or bight which is being extended by the 'action of the threadfinger. During the continued movement of the take-up arm or lever from the position ot Fig. (S through that of Fig. 7 toward that on Fig. 2, the slack-thread controller maintains a, tension on the needle-thread which insures the engagement of said thread with the hook o the needle and its retention within the open eye of the needle during the descent of the latter.

l claim as my invention A l. ln a sewinganachine, in combination, thc take-up arm or leven, a normally inactive slack-thread controller operatively connected therewith and caused to takecontrol of the thread by the action of the said arm or lever in taking np, the rotating crank, and the pitman having one extremity thereof pivoted to the crank-pin and the other extremity there ot pivoted to the said take-up arm or lever' at a ixed distance trom the pivotal axis of the latter. I

2. ln a sewing-machine, in combination, t-heawl-bar and awl, the take-up arm or lever, a normally inactive slack-thread conr troller operatively connected therewith and caused to take control ot the thrcad by the action ot' the said arm or lever in taking up, the rotating crank having its crank-pin in operative connection with the Said awl-bar, and the pitman having one extremity thereotl pivoted to the take-up arm or lever at a fixed distance from the pivotal axis of the latter and the other extremity thereof pivotcd to the, said crank-pin.

23. ln a sewing-machine, in combination, the awl-bar and awl, the take-up arm or level', a normally inactive slack-threaifl controller operatively connected therewith and which is caused to take' control ot the thread by the action of the Saidrm or lever in taking lip, the rotating crank, the connecting link joining the aw'l-bar to the crank-pin, and the second coimecting link pivotall)1 'joined 'at one extremity thereof to the take np arm or lever and at the other extremity thereof tothe same crank-pin as the link rst mentioned.

4. ln a sewing machine, in combination, the swinging take-up arm or lever, means to vibrate the same, and the slaclcthread con-- troller moving in unison 'with the said takeup arm or -lever passive withreference to the thread duringr the take-up vaction and with which the thread is causedto become engaged by the movement of the said arm or lever in taking-up.

5. ln a sewing machine, in combination, the swinging take-up arm or lever having a take-np stud or roll to engage the thread on its way to the seam, moans to vibrate the said arm or lever, and the slack-thread controller carried by the said arm or lever passive with reference to the thread during the takiiig-up action and caused by the action of the takeup arm or lever to engage with the thread between the said stad or roll and the seam.

o. ln a sewing machine, in combination, the take-up arm or lever having a stud or roll to engage the thread on its way to the seam, means to actuate the said arm or lever, and a slack-thread controller moving with the said arm or lever and engaging' with the thread between the saidstnd or roll and the scam and having adjacent surfaces to contine the slack portion ot thread between them.

' 7. In a sewing machine, in combination, a take-up arm or lever, a slack-thread controller passivewith reference to the thread during the taking-11p operation and o )erating to care for the slack of the thread uring the return movement of the said arm or 1ever,- and a rotating crank by which both the said takeup arm or lever and the said slackthread controller are actuated.

8. In a sewing machine, in combination, a

llt!

take-up devicea looper, a thread-finger, a

lslack-thread controller, operating to deliver `up the amount of thread required in the production of the loop that is extended by the action of they thread-finger and operating means for the moving parts.'

9. In a`sevving machine, in combination, a hooked needle, a take-up, a looper, a threadfinger, a slack-thread controller 'acting to take-up the slack as the thread is relieved from thestrain of the'take-up, delivering` up the amount of thread' that is required in the production of the loop that is extended by the action of the thread-finger, and maintaining a tension on the thread to insure engagement of the thread by the needle and retention thereof in the open eye of the needle during the descent of the latter, and actuating means for the moving parts.

10. In a sewing machine, in combinationfi,`

a take-up device, a thread-grip engaging with the thread coming from the source ot supply, a thread-linger, means to operate the said take-up device, thread-grip and threadlinger, and a pll-olf operatively connected With the-said thread-linger. y y

ll. In a sewing machine, in combination, a take-up device, a slack-threadcontroller, a thread-grip engaging with the thread coming from the source of supply, grip-releasing means, the aWl-bar and aivl, and a rotating crank whereby'the said take-up device, slackthread controller, grip-releasing means and aWl-bar are all actuated.

12. In a sewing machine, in combination,

y -the take-up arm or lever, its rock-shaft, a rotating crank in operative connection with Said take-up arm or lever, an arm on said ,p vrock-shaft, and a thread-grip engaging with 40 the source of supply and comprising the the thread between the take-up device and backing-member, the clamping-member having the spindle, the sleeve 184C applied to the said 4spindle and adapted to be operated by the last-mentioned arm, the sprinff acting;r upon the said sleeve, the adjusting sleeve for said spring, the casing,- Within'which said sleeves and spring are contained, and the spring and adjusting-screw co-acting` With said rockshaft y to the said spindle 'and litted Within the said of the thread through the said eye, a pullof?, and a single actuating, train for the said thread-linger and pull-oli'.

la. In combination, a take-up, a threadgrip, a slack-thread controller, an aWl-bar, a rotating shaft, and a common actuator for the said take-up, thread-grip, thread controller, and awl-bar, carried by the said shaft. y l

l5. In combination, a take-up, a threadgrip, a slack-thread controller, an awl-bar, and single rotating` crank by which all of the -said parts are actuated. i 16. Iucombination, a take-up, a threadgrip, a slack-thread controller, an :iwi-bar, a rotatine shaft, a; comlnon actuator for the said i l{e-up, thread-grip, thread controller and avvl-bar carried by the said. shaft, a thread-measurer, a pull-oli, and a common actuator for the said thread-measurer and pull-oil" also carried by the said shaft.

A17.1In :ombinatiom a. take-up device, al1 intermittent thread-grip made eil'cetive by the movement olf the said device'in taking'- up to grip the thread during the taking-up' action, and a slack-thread controller' with which lthe thread'is caused to become engaged by the taking-up action.

1S. In a hooked-needle sewing machine, in combination, a hooked needle, .a thread guide, a thread-finger, a pull-oli?, a single rockshaft carrying the said--t11read-inger and pull-oit, and means for actuatin the 4 operate the thread-linger and pull-off.

In testimony whereof I aliix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

FRANK W. Mannion.

Witnesses CHAS. F. RANDALL, WILLIAM A COPELAND. 

